Luxury Yacht Charter in Cannes

Best eateries, nightlife options, shopping tips and our pick of the top things to do in Cannes. Make your next Cannes adventure special with this guide.

Cannes, infamous for glitz and glamour, is an ideal destination for yacht charter with a lovely Mediterranean climate, chic shopping, beautiful hotels and diverse restaurants.

212 Yachts are based at Port Pierre Canto in Cannes so we are local experts at knowing all the best places to eat, drink, shop and play.

Best Places to Eat in Cannes

Cannes has a huge variety of dining options ranging from Italian pizza joints, to traditional French bistros and Michelin-starred restaurants. If you are seeking a change from the customised menus prepared by your private yacht chef, 212 Yachts is more than willing to give suggestions for the top restaurants in Cannes whether you are seeking a quiet bistro for a family celebration ashore, a business lunch to impress clients or a romantic meal for a special occasion.

La Palme d’Or, decorated in an understated cinematic-theme with portraits of film stars on the wall, is located at the Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez. Awarded two Michelin stars and four toques by Gault & Millau, the food is a true culinary journey.

Chef Christian Sinicropi presents innovative degustation menus focused on variations of a main ingredient. The 72-hour slow roasted lamb is excellent, the sea views are lovely and service is exceptional without being obtrusive.

Recommended as one of the Restaurants Gourmands in the Châteaux & Hotels Collection, Restaurant Mantel is located on the picturesque main street, rue Saint Antoine, in Cannes’ old quarter of Le Suquet.

Owner/Chef Noël Mantel has previously worked at Louis XV in Monaco and Hôtel Negresco in Nice, today with his own restaurant he delivers well-priced menus using the best of local produce with a wine cellar strong on French varietals. Make a reservation and savour the lobster ravioli or truffle risotti.

Nearby to the Marché Forville, La Salsamenteria di Parma (86 rue Meynadier) is a welcoming restaurant that combines Italian hospitality with good food. Start with their Parmesan sauces infused with scallion, artichokes or sweet pepper before choosing a variety of charcuterie such as two-year aged Parma Prosciutto or mortadella from Bologna alongside cheese platters, salads, pasta or meat main dishes. Naturally, the drinks menu includes Lambrusco and Chianti as well as sodas, Moretti beer and Aperol or Cynar spritzers.

Bistro Gourmand is another eatery located near to the Marché Forville and offers diners an inventive menu with Provençal specialties such as ravioli with cepes and truffle cream or fish served with citrus and market vegetables. The lunch menu is excellent value at €22 and the drinks selection covers everything from delicious fruit juices such as peach and rosemary, to Vieux Marc de Provence digestifs or artisan beer from the French Riviera’s local brewery, Colgan’s Brewery.

L’Affable (5 rue de Lafontaine) is a contemporary bistro with cuisine to match. Located amongst high-end boutiques, the fixed-price menus are superb value for the standard of cooking. Reservations are highly recommended during Cannes Film Festival or congress periods – book early and head along to try the rouget filet and eggplant caviar ending with the Grand Marnier soufflé which is outstanding.

With a vintage décor, Da Laura situated on a corner site on a pedestrianized road in Cannes brings old world charm to Cannes dining. Staff are friendly and welcoming and the food is great! Dine on cured meats sliced wafer-thin with their 1947 Berkel slicer or flavourful pastas such as linguine with calamari or ravioli with gorgonzola or white truffle cream.

Other great restaurants to try include Bella Storia for Italian food (51 rue Félix Faure, open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner) and Astoux et Brun (on the corner of rue Louis Blanc and rue Félix Faure) for seafood.

Cannes has a huge variety of dining options ranging from Italian pizza joints, to traditional French bistros and Michelin-starred restaurants

Best Bars and Nightlife in Cannes

Cannes nightlife includes swish cocktail bars, laid-back pubs and hip nightclubs, perfect for a night out during yacht charter for events in Cannes or a quiet drink with clients or friends. There is no shortage of star power during the high season so if you’re looking for a place to party and mingle in Cannes, we’ve got top tips on where to go.

Gotha Club and Le Bâoli are two of the bests nightclubs on the French Riviera. Gotha Club at Palm Beach opens seasonally from the start of the Cannes Film Festival until the end of August with top DJ’s and pop stars playing every Friday and Saturday. Reservations are necessary if you want a table with Champagne service or head outside to the huge terrace for lounging with a sea view.

Le Bâoli is near to 212 Yacht’s office based at Port Pierre Canto and is the best clubbing venue in Cannes. Popular with celebrities and the international jet set crowd, enter through the doors into a world of Balinese luxe with sofas, a garden with exotic tropical plants and intimate candle-lit tables. A combined restaurant-bar-club, the menu offers Mediterranean and Asian cuisine such as Petrossian Alverta Imperial caviar, grilled sea bass and teppanyaki platters paired with bottles of sake. An exceptional cocktail and wine list and all the top marques of Champagne guarantee a decadent night out.

Some of Cannes best bars for yacht charter guests to discover are found at the luxury hotels. Head to the Carlton Bar at the Intercontinental Carlton Cannes for a pre-festival cocktail, Bar L’Amiral at the Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez for a premium Cognac or Le Cercle Bar at the Grand Hotel with a retro vibe as you sink into tub armchairs or sip a cool drink on the garden terrace.

To take advantage of some marvellous views of Vieux Port, the sea and the Ésterels mountains, stop by for a sunset drink at the 360° Lounge Bar on the rooftop of the Radisson Blu 1835 Hotel & Thalasso. Or try the rooftop bar at 3.14 Hotel for laidback cocktails with city skyline views.

For an altogether different ambiance not found on the Croisette or at the bars closer to Vieux Port, make a beeline for Le Suquet. Two nightlife spots there are worth mentioning – Charly’s Bar serves up good cocktails in a bar with vaulted ceiling and pumping DJ tunes.

Fans of traditional pubs will be happy to find a good pint, live sports screenings and live music at Cannes’ best pubs, all of these ones are located within a short walk from Vieux Port and the Palais des Festivals – Morrisons (10 Rue Tessiere), Ma Nolan’s (6 Rue Buttura) or The Quays (17 Quai Saint-Pierre).

Cannes nightlife includes swish cocktail bars, laid-back pubs and hip nightclubs, perfect for a night out during yacht charter for events in Cannes or a quiet drink with clients or friends

Best Places for Shopping in Cannes

Prestigious, luxurious and diverse – welcome to shopping in Cannes! You’re sure to find what you need from luxury gifts to ready-to-wear fashion and accessories.

Rue d’Antibes has major brands for interiors, fashion, beauty, lifestyle and gifts from popular high-street stores including Sephora, United Colors of Benetton, Zara, Vilebrequin and Mango.

The Croisette is home to the world’s premium designer labels including Miu Miu, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, Bottega Veneta, Céline and Fendi. Stop by for the best luxury shopping in Cannes, especially during the major French sale periods from mid-January to February (winter sales or ‘soldes d’hiver‘) and the summer sales (mid-July to August or ‘soldes d’été‘) when stores discount items from 30-70%.

Galeries Lafayette is an upmarket French department store located at 6 rue du Maréchal Foch, a short distance from the Cannes train station. Here you will find top brands in fashion, homewares, accessories and beauty including Michael Kors, Guess, Lacoste, Boss, Desigual and Givenchy.

Cannes may not be as well known for main sightseeing attractions as Nice, Antibes or Monaco but it has a well-rounded selection of natural and cultural attractions to keep charter guests entertained

Top Things to Do in Cannes

Cannes may not be as well known for main sightseeing attractions as Nice, Antibes or Monaco but it has a well-rounded selection of natural and cultural attractions to keep charter guests entertained.

At the top of Le Suquet overlooking the yachts berthed at Vieux Port, Musée de la Castre has an eclectic collection of ethnographical items, musical instruments and landscape paintings set in a medieval building. The view from the rempart walls at the adjacent church square is excellent.

A popular day charter option is to visit the Lérins Islands on one of our popular VanDutch 40s, a short distance from Cannes. Íle Sainte-Marguerite is the larger of the islands and you can visit the Musée de la Mer at Fort Royal where the Man in the Iron Mask was once imprisoned. The museum has displays of shipwreck artefacts and archaeological items from excavations on the island. Île Saint-Honorat, the smaller of the islands is an ancient Saracen defence site with a landmark fortress and abbey. Walk the island pathways or buy some of the wine and liqueurs made by the island’s monks.

Situated 10 minutes from Cannes, Villa Domergue is a lovely place to visit with splendid views of the Bay of Cannes and pretty gardens; during summer they host classical music concerts.

212 Yachts are happy to share our recommendations for the best sightseeing, restaurants, bars and places to shop in Cannes! Please contact us today to discuss your next yacht charter in Cannes.

Written by Jenny Caird

Dublin born Jenny Caird is the founder of 212 Yachts, applying her passion for customer service to create an ambitious and innovative brand. Over 7 years of experience in the yacht charter industry have made her an expert in her field. Whatever your query is, Jenny offers the perfect solution with a smile. With her motivation and dedication, Jenny and her team add the extra degree in yachting.